Method of and apparatus for treating hides and skins



Dec. 11, 1928. 1,694,447

M. M. MERRITT METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR TREATING HIDES AND SKINS Filedse t. 16, 1 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 11, 1 928.

M. M. MERRITT METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HIDES AND SKINS FiledSept.

922 2 Sheets-Shed 2 I I, gm 5 N luveiaioa": flaiiiaewj'ljvrriii PatentedBa. 11, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,694,447 PATENT OFFICE.

MATTHEW M; MERRITT, OF MIDDLETON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO UNITED SHOE"MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A COBPORATION'OF NEWJERSEY.

METEOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING HIDES AND SKINS.

Application filed September 16, 1922 Serial No. 588,606;

This invention relates to methods of and apparatus for treating-hidesand skins by liquids and by various liquors containing chemical bodies,intended to effect either '5 physical or chemical changes in thesubstance of the hides and skins.

While the invention is particularly appli- .cable to the treatment ofhidesin tanning operations thereon, itwill lee-understood that 10 theinvention is not so limited in its application since it may be utilizedin the treatment of skins as Well as ,hides and for a variety ofpurposes such as those which relate to' the removal of hair from theskins l or hides, and to bleaching, drenching, coloring and othersimilar operations.

Numerous machines orapparatuses have heretofore been proposed forutilization in the tanning of hides'iwith the idea of re- 2 ducing thetime required in the tanning while maintaining a high standard of uality and of uniformity in the product 0 the tanning operations. In thiscountry, "hides for sole leather, for belting, for harness, and forother purposes Where a heavy leather is required are almost universallytanned in pits or vats, it being a common practice to shift the hides byhand from one pit .to another while progressively increasing thestrength of the tanning liquor. 3 This process involves an immenseamount of manual labor. Since the work isboth heavy and disagreeable thesupply of workers is rather limited. In the attempts that haveheretofore been made looking to the tanning of hides by machines inorder to reduce the time and the labor incident to the handling-of thehides, a number of difficulties were-encountered which rendered theseprior attempts unsuccessful and which discouraged the tanners sogenerally that machine tanning of hides is practically unknown in thiscountry. In the past, hides which had been machine tanned were found tohaveareas in which the grain side of the tanned hide was roughened" andcracked to such an extent that the hide was unsaleableexcept as adamaged product. Furthermore there was no insurance of uniformity in theproduct of there was failure to tan properly throughout the thickness ofthe hide so that the product soon deteriorated and became worthless,

thetanning operations and in many cases In view of theforegoing, thepresent ini-'/ .vention provides an improved method of tannin inaccordance with which the hides while eing immerse in the tanning liquorand while being Withdrawn therefrom are handled with care topi'eventexcessive bendmg or flexing of any portion of the hide. The reason forthis treatment resides in the fact that frequent and excessive bendingofportions of the hide will cause thoseportions to be excessively tannedon the surface, thus causing a; tan burn on that portion with e a raisedand roughened grain that makes the. portion unsuitable for the uses towhich the properly tanned portions of the. hide -maybe put. Hence, it isan important characteristic of applicants method that each hide isgently flexed at intervals, throughout the whole length thereof, sincethis operation has the effect-of facilitating the penetration of thetreating liquor, while at the same time avoiding excessive bending orrough handlingof any kind.

In order-v that the treating liquor may drain from the hides, thusremovin the exhausted liquor from the-surfaces of it the latter aresuspended vertically, above and clear'of the liquor for a considerableperiod of time, and subsequentlythey are drawn along through thetreating liquor and thus immersed for about the same length of time to"subject them to the action of a con-- sta'ntly replenished supply ofliquid and, treating substance.-

While-the hides-are immersed in the treating liquor the latter is forcedin a stream which moves in the same direction in which the hides aremoving sothat the latter are floated on thestream of liquor andseparated so that .all parts of the hides are equally bathed in theliquor, .thus facilitating the treatment and securing uniformity in theresults attained.

When the hides are first introducedintqthe treating liquor, a relativelyweak liquor preferably is provided and the hides are moved slowlythrough the liquor which may then penetrate gradually to the interior ofI the hide asit is alternately immersed in the liquor and suspended todrain and to be exposed to the atmosphere. Subsequently the i liquor isstrengthened and at the same time the hides are moved .more rapidlythrough the liquor and gently flexed while being ine hides, 80 I theappended claims.

troduced into and removed from the liquor. The liquor is strengthenedseveral times at the proper intervals so that with the gentle flexing ofthe hides the process of getting the chemicals of the treating liquorinto the hide is hastened.

The illustrated apparatus and various important features thereof whileespecially adapted to facilitate the tanning of hides according to themethod already described may obviously have other applications and uses.In accordance with importantfeatures of the invention in its apparatusaspect, as shown, a carrier is provided coniprising rods or othersupports upon which the hides or skins may be attached so as to extendinteriorly of the carrier, and means is provided at the head end of-thecarrier for introducing the hides gently into the treating liquor whilemaintaining them substantially in extended condition. In the preferredform of the invention the means just described is shown as a drum ofsuch a size that the whole body of the folded hidemay rest upon it andbe gently flexed as the drum turns to carry the hides down into thetreating liquor.' At the other end of the carrier the rotatable memberswhich support the carrier are spaced apart, with no intervening shaft,so that the hides may be gradually withdrawn from the liquor with agentle bending movement and finally suspended along the upper run of thecarrier. An important feature of the carrierarrangement is that thehides on the lower run are supported on the upper surface of this runand are not dragged along the bottom of the vat which holds the treatingliquor. Other important features of the apparatus relate to means forsecuring a rapid circulation of the treating liquor which is preferablydirected in a stream that is particularly effective in floating thehides and in reaching all portions of the surface of the hides so thatthe product is uniformly treated. Means is also provided for moving thecarrier at different rates of speed so that the hides may be drawn moreslowly through the weak treating liquor and more rapidly through thetreating liquor as the latter becomes stronger. Other features of theinvention and novel combinations of parts will described in the detailedspecificaton and pointed out in In he drawings, which "show oneillustrative embodiment of my invention i Figure 1 is a plan view ofthepreferred form of material treating apparatus particularly adapted fortanning leather;-

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a link used in the conveyor illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2, and providing a preferred arrangement for attachinghide-carrying bars to the conveyor link; and

Fig. 4: is an elevation of a portion of a hide-carrying bar, a portionof a hide carried thereby, and a preferred form of attaching means,particularly useful in connection with the apparatus and method.

Referring to the drawings and to the preferred form of my inventionselected for illustrative purposes, I have shown an endless carrier forthe hides resenting an upper run 0 and a lower run 7 etween which thehides 8 are carried interior-1y of. the carrier as a Whole.

The preferred form of carrier illustrated includes front and rear rotaryparts acting as pulleys or sprockets, over which the end less carrierpasses. The flexible elements of the carrier are herein shown as twochains, which are preferably formed of wood or other material which willnot ali'ect the tanning or other liquor deleteriously, and which in turnwill not be dcleteriously acted upon by the liquor. Between thesechains, I have provided removable dowels or bars 9, preferably of wood,over which the hides may be lapped or to which the hides maybe attachedin any suitable way, but preferably by attaching means hereinafterdescribed.

The diameters of pulleys or sprockets 10 and 13. over which the chainspass are preferably such that the largest hide to be treated in themachine, when hanging over the dowel in the upper run of the carrier,will not contact with the hides lying upon the I lower run of thecarrier, nor dip into the tanning liquor which preferabl is justsufficient to cover the hides on he lower run of the carrier. The headpulleys or sprockets 10 are preferably provided with an inner drum,spider or other support 11, stationary in space at one end of thecarrier but moving therewith and over which the-hides, suspended fromthe upper run of the carrier ,may lap as they-approach the head end of110 the carrier, the diameter of this drum or spider 11 preferably beingsuch that the hides will fold one upon the other without any sharpbending but with a gentle flexing progressive throughout the length ofeach hide, 115 and such that the hides, as they 'are'drawn around andwith this inner drum, will remain in substantially the overlappedextended relationship which they take when initially folded upon thedrum until they are gently 120 passed or released from the drum as theyrest upon the upper side of the lower run 7 of the conveyor. In order tominimize shp: page of the hides relative -to the surface of the drum asthey are being let down into the treating liquor, said surfaceisprovided with peripheral ridges as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawings.

The tanning or other material treating liquor may be contained in asuitable container, tank or vat 16 surroundingv the lower .portion ofthe carrier, and preferably relatively close to the carrier.

"to pass between them and tothisend each is supported by an. independenttrunnion 14 or 15, leaving the space between them free, so

that each hide as it is drawn upward by the carrier at the rear end ofthe conveyor will be first slightly flexed against the interior of thecarrier and the adjacent hides andthen straightened so that it hangsstraight down from its hide-carrying bar as the latter approaches theupper run of the carrier, and

this without that distortion and extreme flexin that would be likely tooccur if the rear pu leys or sprockets 13 were provided with i anintervening drum or spider. It will be oliserved that thereis produced agentle flexing of the hides both at the time of entering and at-the timeof leaving the tannlng liquor, whereby penetration of the tanning agentsis facilitated. Moreover, the flexing takes place throughout practicallythe whole length of each hide:

In the illustrative machine, the axesofthe head and tail pulleys orsprockets are'spaced apart a considerable distance so that the carrierpassing around the sprockets may be of a suitable length to provide thedesired period (if time during which the hides on the upper run may hangvertically with theirsurfaces exposed to the air and spaced from everyadjacent surface, thereby permitting material.

the treat-ing liquor to, drain therefrom'and permitting the materialcompletely to relieve itself of any strains or distortions arising fromflexure during the operation. This also provides an extended periodduring which the hides on the lower run of the carrier are immersed inthe treating liquor. The apparatus described provides a mini- -mumdisturbance of the material being treated which is consistent with.insuring complete and sufiicient exposure thereof to the action ofthe'material treating liquor in a comparatively short time, and whilealso providin'g for ,those advantages attending alternate immersion and'emersion of the In the preferred embodiment-of my inventionillustrated, the liquor in the tank 16 may be kept at a relatively lowlevel, preferably that at which the hides or other materials on thelower run of the carrier will be merely covered, and the action of theliquor on the hides or other material may be Circulating means for theliquor comprises preferably a centrifugal pump 17 which draws thematerial from the tank through a discharge pipe 18, thence preferablydischarging it into a mixing tank or chamber 19 where the liquor'may beheated, if desired, by a steam coil-20, and thenback into the main tankthrough pipes 21. .The discharge pipe 18 is preferably adjacent that endof the tank where the rear or tail pulleys or sprockets 13 are locatedand the inlet of the pipe where the headpulleys or sprockets 10 arelocated so that the circulation of the liquor tends to force it betweenpipes 21 are preferably adjacent that end I the hides, thereby to assistin the floating or lower run 7 of the carrier lie relatively close;

ly together, while permitting suflicient circulation of the liquorbetween them, in effect floating in the liquor, preferably assisted .inthis by the circulation of the l1quorby the pump, I am enabled to treata relatively large number of hides over their entire area witlT acomparatively small body of liquor. The tank 19, where utilized inconnection with my circulating system, is preferably relatively small sothat the liquor therein is kept .in a state of agitation, and, wherechemicals are added to the treating liquor during operation either tomaintain its strength or to increase its strength, these materials maybe conveniently added gradually in the smallertankwhere, byreasonv ofthe agitation, they will be very rapidly heaviest sole leather, takesfrom five to six days, operating the machine on a ten-hour shift, theoperation of the machine preferably being continued for about ten hourseach day and the liquor then being withdrawn from the tank, leaving thehides in a practically saturated state in the machine during theremaining fourteen'of each twenty-four hours.

In treating some continued circulation by the pump is not necessary ordesirable, but I recommend that classes of materials, the v a pump orequivalent apparatus be provided so that the main tank may be quicklyhas four bars or dowels removably connected thereto, preferably by means(best shown inFig. 3) wherein the bars 9 are squared at the ends andenter rectangular depressions in the link, being held therein by slats3O removably secured in any suitable way,

exemplified by a cleat 31 and screw 32. Where the bars or dowels arethus removably secured, the loading of the machine may be veryconveniently effected by first securing the hides to the dowels or bars,in any suitable way as by tacking. but'preferably by the clamparrangement illustrated in Fig. 4 wherein a bar 33 provided at one endwith-a point 34, may be pressed against the hide bya sliding loop orring'35, which may be held against slipping by suitable serrations 36 onthe under side of the bar. When the loop or ring, 35 is moved to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 4, the pressure on the point 34 will be relievedand the hide may be removed; while slipping the ring 35 to the right, asviewed in Fig. 4, increases the pressure on the point 34, the bar 33being more or less flexible. Change speed gearing is provided so thatthe rate of travel of the carrier may be slowed down to permit relatively slow continuous movement thereof as the bars 9 with the hidesdepending therefrom are slid in place adjacent the top of the rearpulley or sprocket on the carrier during the loading operations. Thebars 9 with theirattached hides may be conveniently removed adjacent thehead end of the carrier, being slid out as they approachthe center ofthe down-going side of the head pulley or sprocket 10.

I have found that where the sprockets or c pulleys ars approximately sixfeet in. diameter, providing six feet between the upper and lower runs,and the distance between the axes of the head and rear pulleys orsprockets is approximately thirteen feet, that the best results areattained by starting the tanning orvother operation with the carriermoving at a relatively low speed, a complete cycle being completedinapproximately three minutes, this being continued until sufiicienttanning has been effected to set the grain and generally toughen thehide 0 structure. After this has been done, the

nature of the hides or other material being treated. Any suitablearrangement of step pulleys 40 or gearing may be utilized to give thedesired range of speeds. A carrier of the dimensions just described hasa shape in longitudinal section of an ellipse with flattened sides.

The apparatus and method described is particularly useful in connectionwith the treatment of hides, especially in the tanning thereof. Hides ina green state'as they come from the drenching operation prior to tanningare very delicate and any undue wrinkling thereof caused by sharpbending or crumpling results not only in a leather of unpleasingappearance, but in ridges in the finished product which render'theleather unusable.

In the use of the apparatus described, no hide is normally permittedappreciably to slip or fall at any point of the cycle, and thelikelihood of wrinkling is thus greatly lessened if not eliminated.Because of the.

manner in which the hides are subjected to the treatment of the liquor,only a very small body of liquor need be utilized, which 'tinuously withfresh liquor, the tannin operation thereby being speeded up an assisted.The weakened liquor cannot remain in the pores and is constantly washedout and replaced by fresh liquor. Each hide necessarily receives thesame uniform treat-' ment and the leather when tanned is verysatisfactorily plumped, because thesurface of the hides during tanninghas been kept relatively open and free, so that-the fibres near thecenter of the hide become thoroughly tanned and an opportunity forgreater swelling of the central structure of the hide is thereforeafforded.

Reduction of the aggregate time of tan- Ding not only results in greatsaving in the apparatus required, cutting down the space necessary, butreduces the aggregate number of hideswhich it is necessary to carryonhand for a given plant capacity. The. labor'saving is veryconsiderable over other rapid tannage operations, because the bandlingof' the hides from one apparatus to another for different treatments isdone away with or eatly reduced, and because of the simplicity and easeof loading the speed may be gradually increased until. at s VVhile- I'have shown and described one fullspeed the carrier preferably completesa cycle in approximately one minute. The

speeds may be varied in accordance with the paratus and method may beconsiderably preferred formof apparatus and a preferred method, it willbe understood the ap- 4o porting and guiding means for said carrier,

' material .to be treated is carried, meansfor throughout its length.

actuating said carrier to move the material being treated during thetreating operation,

- bination, a carrier, front and rear supportsaid carrier providingforsuspension of the material from the interior of the upper run of thecarrier and for supporting the material above the lower run of thecarrier in' a treating liquor, and a member stationary in space at oneend of the carrier and opera 'tive to bend the material progressively 2.Apparatus for tanning or otherwisetreating hides or leather comprising,in

combination, a conveyor carrier, front and rearsupportingand guidingmeans for said carrier, said carrier enclosing the hides dun mgthetanning or treating operation, and

-means for maintaining the-hides in extended condition while introducingthem into the. treatingliquor.

3. Apparatus for tanning or otherwise treating hides. or 'leathercomprising, in combination, a carrier presenting upper and lower runs,and front and rear supporting and gu ding means for said carrier, saidsupporting and guiding means carrier enclosing the hides and providingfor suspension of the hides secured in spaced relationship interiorly ofsaid carrier, depending fromthe upper run thereof and resting upon thelower'run thereof.

4 Apparatus for tanning or otherwise treating hides or leather.comprising, in' combination, a carrier, front and rear slipthe frontpresenting interior supporting means over'which each hide is wrapped asit approaches the front. of the carrier, said interior supporting meansbeing operative to deliver each hide in extended condition to the upperside of the lower run of the "carrier.

5. Apparatus for tanning or otherwise in said carrier enclosing thehides,

porting and guiding means for said carrier,

, said carrier having supports for suspendingthe hides insidethe.carrie'r, said rear supporting and guiding means including tworotatable members over which said carrier passes, the space between jsaid;,rotatable members being substantially unobstructed to permit eachhide to hang substantially per-. pendicularly as it is lifted from thebottom run of the carrier'and passed to the upper run thereof.

6. Tanning apparatus comprising, in combination, a carrier, front andrear supportthe treating liquor.

' front and rear sup- I ing and guiding means for said carrier, saidsaid rear guiding and supportfront and rear guiding means each'includinga plurality of rotatable members over which sald carrier passes,hide-supporting means between the rotatable members of said frontguiding and supporting means, and separate tI'llIlIllOIlSiOljhGrotatable members .of said rear guiding and supporting means. having thespace between the rotatable members of said rear guiding and supportingmeans substantially unobstructed. i

8. Material treating apparatus comprising, in combination, ibleelements, each continuous and supported in substantially parallelplanes, bar's between said flexible 'car'ryin elements, said carrierproviding upper and lower runs, meansfor guiding and supporting saidflexible elements permitting hides to be attached to said bars whileexte'ndinginteriorly of said I carrier, and means for maintaining thehides in extended condition while introducing them into and removingthem from 9. Hide treating apparatus comprising, 1n combination, a tank,two flexible chains, each provided with, a head sprocket and a tailsprocket and arranged in generally parallel planes, bars extendingbetween said chains, to 'formsacarri'er having upper and lower runs,"said chains comprising links to wh1ch .said' bars are conncted. withthehides interiorly of the carrier, and means for lowering the hidesinto the tank in extended Goverlapped relation to-each other." Y 10.Hide treating apparatus 'comprlsing, in combination, a tank,two-flexible chains; each.piovided with a head sprocket and a .tailsprocket and arranged in generally parallel planes, bars extendingbetween sa d chains to form' a' carrier-having upperand lowerruns, saidchains comprising links to the exterior of which said bars are deta-ch-"ably-connected, and a drum at oneend of the carrier operative to lowerthe hides'into the -tank gently and in'extended conditien.

11. Tanning apparatus comprising, in

. combination, av carrier presenting a hide-. carrying chain, guidingand 'supportlng means therefor, a tank surroundfiig the lower portion ofsaid carrierand adapted to contain hide-treating liquor, means providingfor supporting 'hides interior-1y of fsaid carrier, driving means forsaid carrier for causing alternate immersion and emersion of said hidesin said liquor and a rotatable member for causing the hides to enter theli nor in extended condition.

-12. anning apparatus comprising, in combination, a carrier presenting ahidecarrying chain, guiding and supporting means therefor, a tanksurrounding the lower portion of said carrier and adapted to containhide-treating liquor means providing for supporting hides interiorly ofsaid carrier, driving means for said carrier for causing alternateimmersion and emersion of said hides in said liquor, and liquorcirculating means for procuring a rapid circulation of liquor in saidtank and for directing a stream of liquor against the hides to assist inthe floating and separation of the hides.

13. Tanning apparatus comprising, in combination, a carrier presenting ahidecarrying chain, guiding and supporting means therefor, a tanksurrounding the lower portion of said carrier and adapted to containhide-treating liquor, driving means for said carrier for causingalternative inn-- mersion andemersion of said hides in said liquor, andliquor circulating means for procuring a rapid circulation of liquor insaidtank, said circulatory means admitting liquor to the end of saidtank where the hides are first immersed. and withdrawing liquor from theother end thereof.

14. Tanning apparatus comprising, in combination, acarrier presenting ahidecarrying chain, guiding and supporting means therefor, a tanksurrounding the lower portion of said carrier and adapted to containhide-treating liquor, driving means for said carrier permittingalternate immersion and 'emersion of ,said hides in said liquor, andliquor circulating means for procuring a rapid circulation of liquor insaid tank, said circulatory means admitting liquor to one end of saidtank and withdrawing liquor from the other end thereof, the liquor inthe tank being circulated in that direction in which the hides are drawnthrough the tank by the carrier so that the hides are floated andseparated from each.

other in the liquor.

15. Tanning apparatus comprising, in

' combination, a carrier, presenting a plurality rocket means ofhide-carrying bars, head and tail sprocket means, and hide-supportingmeans associated withv the head sprocket means and presenting peripheralridges for engagement with the hides to minimize slippage thereofrelative to 'said hide-supporting means.

16. Tanning apparatus comprising, in

said tank to preclude abrasion of said hides on the bottom of said tank.

17. In an apparatus for treating hides,

skins and other like pieces of work, a carrier having upper and lowerruns arranged to suppport pieces of work and movable in in elliptical.path, and a container for treat ing liquor along the bottom of which thelower run of the carrier is dragged with the 'vide for uniform drainagefrom all of the surfaces of the pieces of work.

18. In an apparatus for treating hides,

skins and other like pieces of work, a carrier having upper and lowerruns spaced from each other to support pieces of work suspended from theupper run clear'of other pieces of work on the lower run, said carrierbeing of a length considerably greater than the spacing between'theruns, a container-for treating liquor adaptedto receive the lower run ofthe carrier, and means for suspending the pieces of work from the lowerside of the upper run whereby they rest upon the upper side of the lowerrun during passage through the treating liquor, the arrangement beingsuch that the pieces of work are'alternately immersed and ex osed to theatmos here for substantial perio s of time.

19. 11 an apparatus for treating hides, skins and other like pieces ofwork, a carrier having upper and lower runs, a support located adjacentto one endof the carrier and having a surface movable at substantiallythe same rate as the carrier, and a container for treatin liquorarranged to receive the. lower run ofithe carrier, said support being sopositioned as to receive in overlapped extended relation pieces of workpresented by the'carrier and being operative to deliver them in extendedcondition to the upper side of the lower run of the *arrier as thelatter enters the treating liquor.

20. In an apparatus for treating hides, skins and other like pieces ofwork, ,acarrier having u )per and lower runs, a shaft at one end of thecarrier, a drum on the shaft located within the carrier so that bothdrum and carrier turn about the shaft, and spaced trunnions forsupporting the other end of the carrier for turning movement about thecommon axis of'the trunnions, the arrangement being such that pieces ofworkas they move with the carrier from the lower to the upper run aregently flexed against the intenor of the last-mentioned end of thecarrier.

combination, a carrier presenting two 111118021. In an apparatus fortreating hides,

for moving the hides in an elliptical path, and an associated tank, arun of said carrier skins and other like ieces of work, a carrier havingupper an lower runs, a shaft at being interposed between said hides andone end of the carrier, a drum on the shaft the carrier from thelower tothe upper runare gently flexed against the interior of thelast-mentioned end of the carrier, and means forsuppo'rtingthe pieces ofwork from the under side of the upper run of the carrier, the drum bein"operative gently to flex the pieces of worfi as they are moved to theupper side of the lower run in their travel with the carrier. a

22. The method of handling hides during tanning or other treatmentwhichcomprises passiiigthem on-noncircular flexible carrying medium ofconsiderable length into and out of the treating liquor whilealternately permitting them to lie floating generally horizontally inthe liquor and to hang generally perpendicularly out ofthe.treatingliquor with their surfaces spaced from each otherto securedrainage of the treating liquor from all the surfaces.

The method of handling hides during tanning or other treatment whichcomprises passing them on a noncircular flexible car'- rying medium ofconsiderable lengthinto and out of the treating liquor while alternatelypermitting them to lie floating generally horizontallyin the liquor andto hang generally perpendicularly out of .the trenting liquor, andcausing only gentle flexin of. the hidesiduring their passage to andfrom the before-described positions. 24. That improvement in methods oftreatinghides which comprises immersing the hides in treating liquorgently while maintaining them in extended condition, moving the hidesthrough the liquor, lifting them from theliquor, suspending them so thatthey hang substantially vertically with their surfaces in spacedrelation to each other to drain the liquor from the surfaces of thehides and then again immersing the hides and repeating the stepsalready. recited. 25. .That improvement in methods of treating hideswhich comprises immersing the hides in treating liquor, drawing themthrough the liquor allin one direction, producing a rapid circulation ofthe liquor in the direction of movement -ofthe hides whereby the latterare-floated and separated from each other so that the liquor bathes allthesurfacespf the hides, removing the hid es Q fFom the liquor andsuspending themsub stantially vertically, so that the liquor, is

, 6o drained from all of the surfaces. of the hides,

then again immersing the hides and repeating the steps already recited.

' 26. That improvement in methods of treating' hides and skins whichcomprises immersing the-hides or skins in relatively weak extentdescribed.

treating liquor, moving the hidesor skins through the treating liquor atrelatively slow speed, removing the hides and suspending them to drainthe liquor fromallv surfaces of the hides or skins, repeating the stepsalready recited for a considerable time, then introducing a stronger liuor into the vat, immersing the-hides or skins as before, drawing themthrough the. liquor at a considerably higher rate'of speed, andwithdrawing the hides Lor skins from the liquor and suspending them to:drain at intervals between-repeated immersions until the completion ofthe treatment.

" 27. That improvement in methods of treating hides and skins whichcomprises. immersing the hides or skins in treating liquor while maintainin' them inextended condition, moving the hides or skinsthroughthe treating liquor, then withdrawing them from the liquor andsuspending, them to drain the liquor from all surfaces of the hides orskins, and during theintroduction ofthe hides or skins into the liquorand also during their removal therefrom gently flex-v 00 ing the hidesor skins to facilitate the penetration of the treating liquor.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, a vat for containing thetreating liquor, a carrier for hides or skins having 05 an upper and alower run spaced from each other so that the. hides or skins on'theupper run may be suspended clear of the liquor which covers the skins orhides on the lower run, and rotatable members at each end of I thecarrier each of a size'to space the upper and lower runs in themannerand to the v 29. In an apparatus for treating hides and skins, avat for treating liquor, a carrier 5 having spaced substantiallyhozizontal upper and lowerruns, said runs being constructed and arrangedto suspend hides from the upper run over and above the treating liquorin the vat an to p t hides on the lower run substantially immersed inthe treating liquor, rotatable members for supporting therarrier,and'means' to actuate I the rotatablemembers at selected rates of speedso that the hides or skins on the car-. 5 rier maybe subjected toimmersion in the treatingliquor for various periods of time.

in accordance with the strength of the treating liquor.

5' 30. In an apparatus for treating hides and skins, a vat for holdingthe treating liquor, a carrier having upper and lower runs spaced fromeach other'so that the hides or skins suspended from the upper run mayclear the tanning liquor which covers the hides or 12 5 ating with thecarrier at one end thereof 13Q liquor so that as the skins or hides aredrawn through the li nor on the lower runof the carrier the hi es orskins lie uniformly in extended condition with the folded .portion inadvance of the other portions thereof, andmeans for causing a rapid flowor stream of the treating liquor in the direction of movement of thelower run of the carrier whereby the skins or hides are floated andseparated from each other so that all surfaces of the hides 0r skins arebathed by the treating liquor.

31. In an apparatus for treatinghides and skins, a vat for the treatingliquor, a carrier having upper and lower runs and movable to draw theskins or hides through the liquor in the "at, and means for causing arapid stream of the treating liquor to flow in the direction of movementof the lower run of the carrier, said means comprising a re1ativelysmall tank connected by relatively large pipes to the vat at the headend thereof to, irect the stream of liquor in the manner described, anda pump at the other end of theyat to withdraw the liquor from the vatand deliver-it to the tank. e v

32. That improvement in methods of treatin hides and 'skins whichcomprises immersing the hides or skins in treating liquor whilemaintaining them in extended condition, moving the hides or skinsthrough the treating liquor, and during the introduction of the hides orskins into the liquor and also during their movement there-.

through gently flexing the hides or skins to facilitate the penetrationof the treating liquor.

In ap aratus for tanning or other-' wise treating P ides or otherleather substances, a carrier having supporting members to which thehides are temporarily attached so as to be enclosed by the carrier, anda circular member having a portion only of its curved surfacesubstantially concentric with the adjacent surface of the carrier andstationary in space within the carrier, said member bein operative toflex the hides gently throng out their lengths during rotation of thecarrier.

34. In an apparatus for tanning or otherwise treating hides or otherleather sub stances,- a carrier havmg supporting members to which thehides are temporarily stances, a carrier turning about front and rearaxes and having upper and lower runs between which the pieces ofmaterial to be treated" are carried, and a .drum within the carrierrotatable about one' of the axes'and operative to support the pieces ofmaterial as they are passing from the upper to thelower run and to flexthem gently. meanwhile 7 throughout the length of each piece.

36.'That improvement in methods of treating hidesand skins-whichcomprises immersing the hides or skins in treatingv liquor, moving thehides or skins through the treating liquor, and gently flexing the hidesor skins to facilitate the treating'liquor.

37. That improvement in methods of treatin hides and skins whichcomprises immers ng the hides orl skins in treating liquor whilemaintaining them in substans tially extended condition, mov' or skins.through'the' treating 'quor, and

gently flexing the hides or skins while main taining them in thedescribed extended con--. dition whereby penetration of the treatingliquor is facilitated.

penetration ofxthe the hides 38. That improvement. in methods of]vtreating hides and/skins which comprises immersing the hides or skins ina treating liquor, suspending them with all their sur-' faces exposed tothe atmosphere to secure uniform drainage, and subsequently re immersingthem while holding them in ex.-

tended overlapped relation and causing gentle flexing throughout'thewhole lengt of each hide or skin.

In testimony whereof, I have signedmy name to this specification.

MATTHEW M. MERRITT. 1

